Boiler-furnace.



P. J. WIDMAN.

BOILER FURNACE.

F. J. WIDMAN.

BOILER FURNACE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 7, 1914.

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FRANK J. WIDMAN, OF CI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WALTER J. MGMILLAN, 01: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOILER-FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23,1915.

Application filed. January 7, 1914. Serial No. 810,832.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK J. VVIDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in that general class or type of furnace in which the fuel is fed from pockets in the upper or roof portion down onto inclined side grates, and thence toward the central portion of the grate structure. It is customary in this type of furnace to feed the coal in from both sides, each side being provided with an inclined grate so that the coal will be fed in a fairly uniform manner from both sides toward the center of the grate. The new or incoming coal un-, dergoes a coking operation on the side grates, so that when it reaches the center portion of the grate structure it has been coked to the desired degree.

fleretofore it has been customary to move the coal from the sides toward the middle of the furnace by means of bars or rods inserted down through the same openings through which the coal itself is fed. Under this mode of operation these bars must be worked back and forth and manipulated to throw the material toward the center of the furnace as well as may be, but owing to the location of the feed holes with respect to the other portions of the furnace, and for various other reasons, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to secure a uniform distribution of the burning mass over the entire surface of the grate. Furthermore, with. this mode of operation it is necessary for the attendant or operator to climb up onto the furnace roof where the temperature is high and where the conditions are such that the operation cannot be conveniently carried on. The result is that the incentive or desire of the attendant to properly perform his work is reduced. For the foregoing, as well as other reasons, this class of furnace has heretofore been subject to some objections of serious nature.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a furnace construction incorporating the feature of the inclined side grates, but in which construction means are provided for throwing the coked material over onto, or for forcing such material tothroughout.

ward the center of the grate in a uniform and even manner so that the bed of burning fuel can be easily maintained of a substantially uniform quality and thickness This will result in a greatly improved operation of the furnace, both from the standpoint of economy of operation, and from the standpoint of ability to secure the maximum possible fuel consumption per square foot of grate area. At the same time in this connection it is desired to provide an arrangement such that the coked material can be moved over without great inconvenience to the operator himself, and without the necessity of the operators climbing up onto the top of the furnace. This will greatly facilitate the operation and provide an inducement for the operator to keep his fires in the best possible condition.

In connection with the foregoing objects it is desired to so construct thegrate that in transferring the coked material from the sides toward the center thereof such transfer will be effected uniformly throughout the length of the furnace so that the fuel bed will be of the same quality at the eX- treme forward and rear portions of the furnace as it is in the middle portion thereof. Also in this connection it is desired to provide a construction such that the coal cannot fall through the grate during the transferring operation, thereby preventing or obviating theloss of material in this manner.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means for cutting off the supply of coal during the transferring operation so that said operation will not be interfered with by the delivery of fresh coal at that time. In this connection another object is to so relate the parts that they will cooperate in such manner that the burdens of shutting 0d the coal supply and of transferring the coked material will not be simultaneously imposed on the attendant, thereby making it very much easier to operate the mechanism than would otherwise be the case.

Other objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of the invention which consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a cross section through the central portion of a furnace equipped with a construction embodying the features of my present invention, said figure being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the ar rows; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the body of the furnace being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a front ele vation of the furnace of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the mechanism for transferring the coked material and the shutting off mechanism, both of said mechanisms being shown in their normal positions by means of full lines, and the transferring mechanism being shown by means of dotted lines at the position where the lost motion is taken up; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. i with the exception that the transferring mechanism is shown by means of full lines at the point where the lost motion is taken up, and both the transferring mechanism and the shutting off mechanism being shown in their fully operated positions by means of dotted lines.

In the several figures I have shown the furnace proper, but have only shown a portion of the boiler, inasmuch as the features of invention have reference particularly to the furnace itself.

The central portion 6 of the grate may be of any desired construction, but for purposes of convenience I have illustrated the same as including a plurality of rocking bars 7, each of which carries a number of grate bars 8 so that as the bars 7 are rocked the grate bars will rock with them. One or more links 9 are connected to the bars 7 through the medium of the cranks 10 so that as said link is forced back and forth the grate will be rocked. For this purpose a hand lever 11 is illustrated, the same being located at the front of the furnace.

Inclining upward at each side of the grate are a plurality of bars 12 which constitute the slanting or sloping portion of the grate bed. These bars 12 are conveniently illustrated as mounted in pairs, each pair being connected together at its lower end by means of a web 13. The fuel is placed on the roof 141 of the furnace, and passes down through feed openings 15 onto the inclined or slanting portion of the grate. The fuel enters at a speed largely dependent upon the rate of consumption within the furnace, but in every case it is first delivered down onto the inclined portions of the grate. The freshly delivered fuel rests on these inclined portions for a period of time until it is desired to transfer it over onto the horizontal portion. During the interval while its rests on the inclined portion it is undergoing a coking process, the heat necessary to effect the coking being derived from the central portion of the bed of glowing fuel. It therefore follows that in the normal operation, as the material is delivered over onto the central portion of the grate it is in a fully or partially coked condition.

In the inclined side portions of the grate I have provided a plurality of transferring bars 16 which are preferably pivoted in their lower portions so that they can be swung or rocked toward the center of the grate-for the purpose of transferring the coking fuel. As a convenient mode of construction I have illustrated these bars as being individually mounted between the pairs of bars 12, and as being mounted on rods or shafts 17 which extend lengthwise through the ash pit. Each of the rods 17 extends through the front wall of the furnace and is provided with an operating handle or the like 18 whereby it may be rocked to transfer the fuel.

In order to insure that the incoming coal will not catch onto the upper ends of the bars 16 when they are rocked, and for the purpose of preventing fuel from falling down into the ash pit between the pairs of bars 12, each of the bars 16 is preferably segmental in form so that when thrown over into the extreme position the slot between the bars 12 will not be uncovered. This feature is well illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. Furthermore, in order to prevent coal or other material from working down past the lower ends of the bars 16 said ends are preferably curved or formed on arcs 19 concentric with the axes 17 so that the clearances 20 at the lower ends of the bars 16 will not change, as said bars are rocked.

The bars 16 on each side of the furnace constitute a series extending from front to back thereof so that the rocking of the shafts 17 will serve to effect a uniform and even transfer of the material throughout the entire length of the furnace. The inclined side portions are generally placed at an angle of about 45 as shown in the several figures, and it will ordinarily be suliicient to allow a throw of approximately 45 for the bars 16. Such a throw will carry said bars into a vertical or upright position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, which will result in casting or pushing the coked material and the material carried on the bed 6 toward the middle of the furnace. It therefore follows that after a series of operations of the bars 16, the material will be caused to advance and occupy the entire bed or grate of the furnace, after which the transfer will, in each case be from both sides toward the center. This will result in a uniform or gradual movement of the fuel toward the center of the furnace each time the bars 16 xre rocked.

It was previously explained that one of the objects of the invention is to cut off the supply of coal during each transferring operation. For this purpose shutters or doors 21 are provided under the openings 15, said shutters traveling in the guides or carriers 22. Each shutter normally stands within a pocket or the like 23 in the side wall of the furnace, and is projected thence into the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 5. In order to prevent burning of the guides 22, it is preferred that the latter should not extend materially beyond the side Walls of the furnace, this feature being well shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

For the purpose of operating each shutter 21 I provide an inter-connection between it and the corresponding shaft 17 so that the rocking of such shaft serves also to operate the shutter. It will be evident, however, that if it were necessary for the attendant to close the shutters 21 at the same time that he was commencing the movement of the bars 16 it would be necessary for him to overcome a very large initial or starting force. In order to enable the two operations to be commenced independently of each other, thereby reducing the starting force as much as possible I provide a certain amount of lost motion between the bars 16 and the shutters 21.

All of the foregoing constructions arewell illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In the arrangements there shown a lever or the like 24 pivoted at the point 25 has its upper end connected to the corresponding shutter by means of a pin and slot connection 26. The lower end of each lever 2 1 connects by means of a link 27 to a pin 28 on a crank carried by the corresponding shaft 17 a slot 29 providing a certain amount of lost motion at this point. The operation of closing the shutter will not commence until this lost motion has been taken up.

It may sometimes be desirable to cast or move the coking material by means of a rod or bar, in which case means should be provided to permit such rod or bar to be properly and conveniently manipulated. For this purpose I provide an opening 30 in the front of the furnace and in line with each of the inclined portions of the grate. These openings are conveniently covered when not in use, but when it is desired to cast the coking material bars may be inserted through the openings and moved along flush against the inclined grates to effect the casting operation. It is therefore apparent that there is a certain relationship between the position of the openings 30 and the inclined portions of the grates, inasmuch as the material cannot be conveniently nor properly cast unless the bars can be inserted in the foregoing manner.

For the purpose of supplying air uniformly throughout the length of the furnace, andto the inclined portions of the grate, I provide a passage way 31 in each of the side walls of the furnace. The front ends of these passages are preferably covered over by grates or the like 32 to prevent the ingress of foreign matter, and the passages are periodically connected into the sides of the furnace by means of openings or the like 33. It is preferred also that a connection be established between each of the passages 31 and the corresponding socket or pocket 23 as by means of an opening 34:. The air which is admitted through the openings 34: will blow past the shutters and link connections so as to assist in keeping them cool. I

It will be seen from the foregoing disclosures that I have provided means for transferring the fuel from the side portions of the grate toward the center thereof, and that in the particular arrangement illustrated such transferring means is effective throughout the entire length of the furnace from front to rear. It will be seen also that the transferring mechanism operates in a positive manner to cast or push the fuel toward the center of the grate, as distinguished from the arrangements in which the material is allowed to slide toward the center of the grate by gravity. 'While in many cases it is desirable to effect the transfer throughout the entire length of the furnace, yet in many cases a transferring mechanism operative over only a portion of the length of the furnace would be sufficient, and, therefore, I contemplate such mechanism as being within the scope of my invention.

It is also evident that many other arrangements or constructions might be devised for efiecting a positive transfer of the fuel from the sides toward the center, or from the front and rear portions of the furnace toward the center thereof, and, therefore, I do not limit myself to the arrangements or constructions herein shown and described, except as I may do so in the claims, but include within the scope of my invention any equivalent mechanisms for effecting a positive transfer from the sides toward the center, or from the front and back portions toward the center of the grate.

I claim:

1. In a furnace the combination with a plurality of sloping U-shaped grate bars of a transferring bar mounted in the opening of eaclrof said U-shaped bars, each transferring bar being pivotally supported to swing about a pivotal point adjacent to the lower end of each U-shaped bar, and being of segmental formation, the upper edge of each transferring bar being formed substantially on the arc of a circle drawn about the pivotal point, and the lower edge of each transferring bar being formed substantially on the arc of a circle drawn about the pivotal point and of a radius to permit the transferring bar to swing within the slot of the U-shaped bar, all of the transferring bars normally standing with their supporting edges substantially in alinement with the supporting edges of the stationary bars to provide a substantially flush fuel supporting surface and means for simultaneously swinging the transferring bars upward about their pivotal points, whereby when the transferring bars are swung they serve to raise the fuel from the stationary bars and transfer the same toward the center of the furnace, and whereby the slots of the U- shaped bars remain substantially closed at all times.

2. In a furnace the combination with a their upper working edges lying substantially in the same plane, and connecting pieces joining the lower ends of said bars to provide openings between consecutive bars, of transferring bars pivotally supported in said openings, each transferring bar being pivoted to swing about a center in close proximity to the lower end of the opening in which it is mounted, and each transferring bar being of segmental formation and having its free end of arcuate formation, and means for simultaneously swinging the transferring bars upwardly about their pivotal points, the transferring bars normally standing with their working edges substantially in alinement with the working edges of the. stationary bars, whereby the fuel is normally supported by the working edges of the stationary bars and of the transferring bars and whereby when the transferring bars are swung forwardly they serve to raise the fuel away from the stationary bars to transfer the fuel toward the center of the furnace, the upper arcuate edges of the segmental transferring bars serving to support the fuel which stands on the stationary bars above said arcuate edges.

plurality of sloping stationary bars having 3. In a furnace the combination with a plurality of stationary arms sloping upwardly at each side of the furnace, and an arched roof extending over the furnace and having fuel delivery openings above the sloping stationary bars, of transferring bars pivotally mounted between sets of station ary bars and adapted to swing upwardly with respect to the stationary bars about pivotal points at their lower ends, the transferring bars normally standing with their working edges substantially in alinement with the working edges of the stationary bars, and the transferring bars having their upper ends of arcuate formation, shutters mounted in position to interrupt the supply of fuel to the stationary bars, and means for actuating the transferring bars to swing the same upwardly with respect to the stationary bars to thereby transfer fuel from the stationary bars toward the center of the furnace, and means for closing the shutters to.

interrupt the delivery of fuel when the transferring bars are actuated.

4. In a furnace the combination with a slanting grating at each side of the furnace, and an arched roof extending over the furnace and over said gratings, there being fuel delivery openings in said roof in position to deliver fuel to the gratings, of transferring bars pivotally mounted in the grating openings and adapted to swing upwardly on said pivotal mountings above the intermediate grating bars, a shutter slidably mounted beneath each fuel delivery opening, and an interconnection between the shutter on each side of the furnace and the corresponding transferring bars.

FRANK J. VIDMAN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNING, J r., FRANCES M. FnosT.

Copies ofthis patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

